"Rusted bridge prompts concerns; Overhaul too pricey, say Boston, state officials" by Stephanie Ebbert, Globe Staff | June 30, 2008
The Long Island Bridge is safe, thanks to recent repairs and the weight restrictions, Boston officials say. But they have no designs - or money - to give the bridge the $60 million overhaul it needs. The state had included the bridge project in plans for a bond issue in 2002 but cut the funding the following year.
But the officials say its safe, so go right over!
Ladder trucks and other fire vehicles are banned from using the bridge and MBTA buses can only cross it at half-capacity. Though school buses are only half the weight of many MBTA buses and are permitted over the span, the campers will ride in smaller-scale buses as a precaution.
Engineering consultants hired by the city noted in a recent report that the bridge might be even worse than it looks because loose rust often conceals actual holes.
Naw, its safe; city told me so!
Last spring, chunks of concrete fell off the bridge, which was inspected by consultants for the city and found to be in serious condition. This rating typically means the bridge is structurally deficient by federal standards - indicating the bridge is in need of repairs or replacement parts and nearing the end of its useful life.
Since then, the bridge has undergone a series of repairs aimed at replacing worn components to ensure its integrity and maintain it until a full rehabilitation can be done.
Yeah, so just HALF-ASS it instead!
"Absolutely it's safe the way we have it now," said Rob Rottenbucher, a former bridge inspector who was newly hired as the city's chief structural engineer to bring some expertise in-house. "I am very confident and if I was not very confident I would not let the bridge open."
But the steep cost of a complete renovation has some politicians asking: Is this bridge worth saving? State Senator Michael Morrissey, a Quincy Democrat who has called for dismantling the bridge rather than using state funds to replace it, argues against it, saying that, even if the state had $50 million to $60 million to offer the city to renovate the bridge, he would oppose the funding.
"I just think it would be a giant mistake to prioritize a project like this over much-needed repairs in the city of Boston - and for that matter at the expense of other communities in the Commonwealth," Morrissey said. "Fifty million dollars would go a long, long way."
The island is not accessible to the public and is used mostly by the city of Boston.
Oh my God! Here is the taxpayer being RIPPED OFF AGAIN!
A gatehouse on Moon Island - which precedes the bridge to Long Island - is staffed by police.
About 1,500 people will be on the island on summer days when camp is open, and many of them - such as the campers - come and go over the bridge each day by van or small bus.
The island is also home to about 15 social service programs - including emergency healthcare for patients with AIDS, substance abuse treatment, a homeless shelter, and even an organic farm run by the homeless people for their consumption and for use by a few city restaurants.
Yeah, bit WHO CARES if they take a DROP into the HARBOR, right?
State officials, who face a backlog of billions of dollars worth of bridge repairs, say the Long Island Bridge is not on their list of priorities because it is not widely used.
Seriously, WHERE has all the $$$$ gone?!
To a DESERT FAR AWAY for WAR PROFITS?
"Because we have very limited funding opportunities for bridges throughout the Commonwealth, and because the Long Island Bridge is not widely used by the public, we have no plans to fund repairs to that bridge at this time," said Adam Hurtubise, a spokesman for the state Executive Office of Transportation.
Hope it doesn't COLLAPSE anytime soon -- especially with a GROUP of CHILDREN on it!!!!
The city's capital budget calls for spending $13.5 million in the next four years on maintenance of the bridge. "We can keep doing this for years. There is no imminent cutoff date," said Dennis Royer, the city's chief of public works and transportation.
--MORE--"
Yeah, like fixing an old car; eventually the REPAIRS cost MORE than a NEW ONE!!!
But it is all right to toss money at rich Hollywood folk or corporate and lottery favorites, as well as Wall Street, while we have SCHOOLS SHUTTING DOWN and BRIDGES COLLAPSING!
How's that butt hole feeling, taxpayer?
Also see: All For the Kids
